Brisbane local Rory Meehan crowned iQFoil Youth World Champion

Curnow, Brisbane local crowned iQFoil Youth World Champion © Sailing Energy / RQYS

The Youth World Championship in Brest, France hosted 400 competitors from 36 countries - 150 in my U19 Men's fleet. Light winds and shifty conditions tested patience, an early black flag forced caution, and tactical discipline in every race mattered. Here's how my regatta played out.

The Qualifying Series

Day 1: Kicked off the event with a solid race win, then got a little too eager and received a BFD (over the start line early). That meant if I was over on a start one more time in the qualifying series, I'd get a DNE (a non-discardable last place) which would ruin all chances of winning the event. For the next few days, I couldn't risk pushing the starts. I had to be super safe off the line and fight my way back through the fleet to get to the front. With light winds limiting racing, most of the event became a mental battle just to stay in contention. When we finally finished the qualifying series, I'd done enough to sit 6th overall.

The Final Series

With the black flag lifted, I could finally push the starts and sail properly in the final series and race against the best sailors in gold fleet. The results showed: 1, 1, 1, 4, 1 (dropping the 4th). That great day shot me up to 2nd overall heading into the medal series - and my first time making the lycra ceremony.

The Medal Series

Only the top eight advanced to the medal series, racing in a direct knockout from quarter to semi-finals to finals. Because I qualified in 2nd place, I earned a ticket straight to the Grand Final. The rules are fairly simple:

• First to 2 stars wins the title
• Mattia (from Italy) started with a 1-star advantage as leader
• I needed to beat him twice to claim the championship

Race 2: I started great, leading the race comfortably but made one strategic mistake at the bottom mark and went the wrong way upwind - Arton (from Turkiye) took advantage and overtook me; I couldn't catch him on the final downwind and finished right behind in second.

Race 3 (Three foilers with 1- star each): This was it, I was in second after the start and made a risky but perfect move against Mattia (Italian) at the bottom mark, which followed with a pumping battle upwind. I ended up rounding the top mark just in front with Arton (Turkiye) right behind me. I knew this was my moment. Holding that lead to the finish line was the best feeling, a huge relief and a goal achieved.

This title isn't just mine. It's for my coach Mitch Pearson, who has coached me from the beginning, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron for its incredible support, my family who follow every race, my teammates and everyone who sent messages of encouragement, support and congrats.

This result is awesome, and a milestone to my bigger goal of becoming an Olympic Champion!

I am heading to Townsville this week for a training camp, and in October I hope to qualify for the World Sailing Youth Worlds, which will be held in Portugal in December this year.